Healthy Habits May Help Childhood Cancer Survivors Avoid Chronic Ills

MONDAY, July 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Following a healthy
lifestyle may help childhood cancer survivors reduce their risk for
chronic health issues, a new study indicates.

Researchers suggested that children with cancer and adults who
survived childhood cancer should be educated about how their diet
and certain behaviors could affect their health in the future.

"These findings are important because they indicate that adults who were treated for cancer as children have the opportunity to influence their own health outcomes," said one of the researchers, Kirsten Ness of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

Adults who had cancer when they were children are at greater
risk for metabolic syndrome -- a group of risk factors that
increases the likelihood of developing heart disease, diabetes,
stroke and other health problems.

People with metabolic syndrome have some combination of the
following: high blood pressure; abnormal cholesterol; high blood
sugar levels; and increased body fat.

The new study, published online July 28 in
Cancer, found that maintaining a healthy lifestyle may lower
childhood cancer survivors' risk of developing metabolic
syndrome.

For the study, the researchers analyzed information on nearly
1,600 childhood cancer survivors who were cancer-free for at least
10 years.

"This study is unique because of the large, well characterized population of survivors of various diagnoses that we studied, many years from their original cancer diagnosis," said Ness in a journal news release.

Participants were given questionnaires and tests to determine
whether or not they followed the seven healthy lifestyle
recommendations issued by the World Cancer Research Fund and
American Institute for Cancer Research. In order to be considered
compliant, they had to follow at least four of the
recommendations.

Overall, the study revealed that nearly 32 percent of the
participants had metabolic syndrome. Of those who followed the
healthy lifestyle recommendations, 27 percent had the
condition.

Men and women who didn't follow the recommendations were more
than twice as likely to have metabolic syndrome as those who did
follow the guidelines, the investigators found.

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.